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Welcome!  This Save Our Prison Farms website has been set up by the national campaign team to respond to growing public concern over the imminent shut down of Canada's six prison farms.  We believe that our government will reverse its misguided policy decision as it continues to discovers that the vast majority of Canadians of all political stripes support this productive, cost effective, rehabilitative farm-based program.

We are holding a Town Hall meeting at Memorial Hall (in City Hall) on Saturday, August 28, from 1-4 pm. Please sign up to guarantee yourself a spot.

SEE THE BLOCKADE:

A photogallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28168742@N02/sets/72157624689832556

Get live updates from the prison farm twitter feed at http://twitter.com/prisonfarms, or right to your cell phone: Text START to 21212, then SIGNUP, then a unique username of your choice, and finally FOLLOW PRISONFARMS, in that order.

UPDATE AUGUST 11, 6:30am

We mourn the loss of the cows and our trust in our police and government, but this fight is not over.

All 24 citizens arrested during the peaceful demonstration and blockade at Frontenac Institution on Sunday and Monday, August 8-9 have been released on bail.   Ages range from a 14 year old girl to an 87 year old great-grandmother and include 4 farmers, 2 RMC professors, a retired United Church minister, a Queen's University physics student, the president of a local federal riding association, a teacher, a lab technician, and other everyday folks.  All have been criminally charged with mischief for trying to sit in front of the cattle trucks taking away the 280 head Frontenac Institution dairy herd.  The bail hearing is set for September 14.

The herd was auctioned yesterday at OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange) in Waterloo.  Some of the cows were bought by members of the campaign and most will go to Ontario dairy farms.  Approximately 20 very young calfs and mother cows remain at Frontenac Institution - we may try to mobilize the public to buy these if they go on auction in Napanee next week, so that the herd genetics can stay in the area.

The Save Our Prison Farms national campaign is deeply thankful to these and the hundreds of other citizens from Kingston, Perth, Ottawa and other communities who braved the driving rain and strong arm police tactics to try to stop the cows from being shipped out.  We celebrate  a victory for peaceful democratic expression in the face of a minority Conservative government that refuses to listen majority Canadian opinion.

We are ashamed of our City of Kingston, Toronto, and Ontario Provincial Police officers who dragged away their peaceful fellow citizens on orders from Steven Harper.  Our police have failed us by making our streets more dangerous - prison farms make our communities safer.  We know that many officers are ashamed of themselves.  You could see it in their faces as they pleaded with the 87 and 66 year old women they arrested.  These women courageously refused the opportunity to walk away and chose to stand for what they believe in:

• The responsibility, work ethic and skills learned by inmates on Canada's six prison farms
• The therapeutic and healing effects of working with dairy cows, chickens and other farm animals
• The rural values of self-sufficiency and commitment that these farms embody
• The importance of all communities learning to feed themselves in an age of climate change, peak oil, fresh water scarcity, soil depletion, global population growth, declining farm yields, and rising food prices
• The necessity to save all farmland for feeding the future
• Justice, Corrections, farm and food systems that are fair and sustainable

This campaign is far from over.  Our resolve has been strengthened by the courage of hundreds of our fellow citizens who spent two days on the protest lines, and by the thousands of drivers-by who honked in support of all that is good and right about Canada's prison farms.  We are encouraged by the federal Liberal and NDP announcements that they will re-establish the prison farm program if elected, and we remain hopeful that the Conservatives can listen and change course on this misguided policy decision.

We will be continuing the campaign with:

• a Public Celebration (probably on Thursday, August 19 in Kingston City Park - TBA)
• a Town Hall meeting to workshop future actions (probably the following Saturday, August 28th, TBA)
• further actions in the weeks ahead
• a concert, possibly with Sarah Harmer, Gord Downie, Bruce Cockburn, Broken Social Scene and others in September
• action in Conservative ridings across the country before and during the next election

Please link here to sign up for our mailing list so we can keep you posted about these and other upcoming events.

More opportunities for you and/or your organization to get involved are listed on the You Can Take Action page

Please consider making a donation to the Save Our Prison Farms Campaign

This campaign is a lightening rod for addressing the Conservative Party's generally short-sighted policies on farming, food and justice.  The decision to shut down this successful rehabilitation program symbolizes our government's lack of understanding of what actually makes the public safe, and their failure to recognize the value of a restorative approach to justice and a sustainable, local approach to the future of farming and food.

UPDATE AUGUST 10, 9:30am

Today, August 10, is Prisoners' Justice Day.

Most arrestees from Monday's blockade were released on bail overnight. A few will have bail hearings in person at 12:30, so please join us to support them.

We received a letter from arrestee Patrick Thompson, sent after he was released in the wee hours of the morning. We would like to share it with all supporters.

Dear Prison Farm Campaign Supporters,

My name is Patrick Thompson, and I am proud to count myself as one of those arrested today.

Today was a great day for me. Yes, the cows are gone, which is an incalculable loss, but there was a sense of community and purpose that I have never felt. Thank you all for that. I was moved to tears by Dianne Dowling’s speech. Tears for the realization that this is not the country that we have been taught we live in, and that solidified my commitment to become “unlawful”. Yesterday singing O Canada, I felt that “we stand on guard for thee”, means us, citizens, stand guard. Today I am proud to say we did stand on guard for our democracy. Please read the rest.

UPDATE AUGUST 9, 10:15pm

Today the Kingston Police and the OPP brought in hundreds of police officers, including the tactical unit, to escort loaded cattle trucks out of Frontenac Institution. Various citizens who attempted to approach the main driveway were seen being struck, tackled, and otherwise abused by needlessly aggressive police.

We are deeply disappointed that the government has used violence against peaceful protesters attempting to express the democratic will of the people of Kingston and across Canada.

The nine people arrested on Sunday have all been released on bail. Supporters packed a courtroom today for their bail hearings.

Fifteen people were arrested today. A few have been released on bail this evening. For those held overnight, there will be a bail hearing at the Wellington Street Provincial Court at 12:30. We encourage you to attend and show your support. Tomorrow, August 10, is Prisoners' Justice Day.

Over the next couple of days the prison farm campaign will focus on getting arrestees out of jail and back to their families. Stay tuned for more updates and events in the next week.

The Conservative government thinks they can silence us by bullying citizens and removing the cows. But our resolve has only been strengthened, and our struggle for justice and democracy will continue.

Live updates will continue at http://www.twitter.com/prisonfarms.

Note: Most arrestees released on bail today were required to stay at least 1000 metres from any Corrections site. In Kingston, that means they cannot move freely in large swathes of their own city.

UPDATE AUGUST 8, 8:00pm - Aug 9 press release

There was a very successful blockade at Frontenac Institution today. Over 500 people rallied at the front entrance of the prison and blocked four cattle trucks, which arrived just before 2pm. The blockade held strong despite arrests and pouring rain. Shortly after 6pm the blockaders elected to disperse and reconvene in the morning. Police have promised that no cattle will be moved before 6am.

We need as many people as possible to join and support the blockade on Monday morning. Please try to arrive around 6:00am if possible.

Call your friends and family and ask them to join us! Call media outlets and tell them to cover this! Call the City police and tell them to stand down!

Call the trucking companies who have been duped into taking this job and tell them to stop supporting this undemocratic action that hurts farmers and our communities:

Thur Transport, Elmira, Ont: 519-669-8420, 519-577-1459

Luckhart Transport, Sebringville, Ont:  519-393-6128, dluckhart@luckhart.com

Nine people were arrested today, including a 14 year old girl and 87 year old woman, and some will have bail hearings on Monday.

UPDATE and MEDIA RELEASE -- Aug 6, 2010:

Despite 18 months of strong public opposition from Canadians of all backgrounds, the Conservative government has decided to try to kill the prison farms by shipping out the Frontenac Institution dairy herd from Kingston to the OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange) auction house, this Sunday, August 8 and next Monday, August 9.  The Save Our Prison Farms national campaign is calling on citizens to stop them.  Kingston area residents have demonstrated that they will not let one cow leave the farm.

Citizens of all ages are called to come out en masse at 12 noon (or earlier, if you can) on Sunday, August 8 to peacefully demonstrate, out front of Collins Bay and Frontenac Institutions on Bath Road, and to block the shipment of the cows.  We are asking the thousands of people who support this vital program and all the good it represents to re-plan their Sunday and book their Monday off work (the action will start at around 6am on Monday) to show our government that we intend to save our farms.  It’s not too late for Prime Minister Harper to listen to majority Canadian opinion.

We need everyone to be there to make the strongest, calm and peaceful statement about broad public support for the prison farms.  Citizens will be able to choose the level of  peaceful participation they are comfortable with - from actively blocking the cattle trucks (which involves risk of arrest), to standing nearby or across the road as witness, as supporters to the demonstration, or to bring food and water for participants.

Organizations, such as the Frontenac Federation of Agriculture and the Sisters of Providence will be in the demonstration, but leave participation in the blockade up to individual members.  The same goes for everyone - all comfort levels and all ages can participate as they see fit.

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We want to make it clear to the CSC (Correctional Service of Canada) that we have no intention of hindering regular access to the prisons.  This will be a soft blockade - we will ONLY block animal transports,  NOT shift changes, prisoner transfers, or emergency access.

We want to stress to the Kingston City Police that this campaign has always been peaceful and will remain so.  Peaceful civil disobedience, as inspired by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., is a way for citizens to democratically express themselves when a government has stopped listening to the majority opinion of its people.  We ask that you join your friends and neighbours in trying to make our community safer by saving the prison farms - please help everyday citizens by standing down on Sunday and Monday.

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It could be a long day, so bring water, snacks, sunscreen/hats, drums, musical instruments, games, cameras, video cameras, and friends!  Please park at Frontenac Mall or on the side of Bath road.

More opportunities for you and/or your organization to get involved are listed on the You Can Take Action page

RIGHT NOW we need all prison farm supporters to call and email OLEX (the Ontario Livestock Exchange) and encourage Larry Witzel, the General Manager, to forgo any involvement in the auction.  Please call and leave a voice message, or email him, today! 1-800-265-8818, lwitzel@olex.on.ca

Please consider making a donation to the Save Our Prison Farms Campaign

This campaign is a lightening rod for addressing the Conservative Party's generally short-sighted policies on farming, food and justice.  The decision to shut down this successful rehabilitation program symbolizes our government's lack of understanding of what actually makes the public safe, and their failure to recognize the value of a restorative approach to justice and a sustainable, local approach to the future of farming and food.

6 p.m. until the cows come home
City Park south of Bagot Street, Kingston

It's been "the good, the bad and the ugly" so far, and it's not over yet!

THE FIGHT IS ON TO SAVE OUR PRISON FARMS, AND TO SAVE OUR COWS!

August 6 Update: See above

August 3 Update: OLEX has confirmed that the auction of the Frontenac dairy herd will take place on Tuesday, August 10 at their location in Waterloo.  IT WILL BE A LIVE AUCTION - THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO SHIP THE COWS FROM FRONTENAC INSTITUTION TO WATERLOO IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO AUGUST 10.   The campaign team is meeting tomorrow to decide on how to stop this - we will update you shortly!

July 28 Update: OLEX has just confirmed by telephone that pressure from citizens and Ontario's farm organizations has led to a delay of the August 3rd auction of the dairy cattle from Frontenac Institution.  OLEX General Manager, Larry Weitzel would not confirm when the auction would take place, but said, "within a month".  

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CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE WORKSHOP -- Thursday, July 29, at 7pm

Please meet at the Sir John A statue in City Park, Kingston, at the corner of King and West Streets.

We want as many people as possible trained in civil disobedience techniques -- the techniques work (we saw that at the July 23 blockade) and the training will help people to feel comfortable with using them. We want to add to the momentum of our campaign by having more people involved at every new event.

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VOLUNTEERS needed for Information Table, at Tara Natural Foods,  downtown Kingston

We have set up an information table in front of Tara Foods, 81 Princess Street (between King and Wellington Streets), this week to:

a. Increase public awareness of the issue

b. Enlist more contacts and volunteers

c. Collect donations for the campaign

d. Increase our visibility in the community

Volunteers are needed to staff the table, usually in two hour shifts, from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.  Please contact Bridget Doherty at 613-544-4525, ext 145, or at bridget.doherty@providence.ca to book a shift for today until Saturday.  Bring a buddy, if possible -- it's more fun that way.

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July 23 Update: Over 250 citizens braved the rain from 6:30-9:00am on Friday morning to shut down access to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) Headquarters on King St. in Kingston, Ontario.  A peaceful , musical, and assertive democratic message was sent by participants of all ages (from babies to grandmothers) of all political stripes to our government: the people want you to change your minds and save Canada's six prison farms.  We will not let one chicken or cow be taken away from Frontenac Institution prison farm!  Hundreds are on a phone tree to mobilize citizens blockade any attempts to move the animals off the farm, 24/7.  Today was good practice.

The blockade of 4 entrance ways and a parking lot around the corner, lasting for over two rainy hours, was jubilant and peaceful.  Access to CSC Headquarters was blocked, but traffic on King St. was allowed to pass, although it was slowed as hundreds of drivers by honked their support and accepted leaflets.  It is difficult to find anyone in Kingston, or anywhere in Canada, who does not support inmates feeding themselves as part of this cost-effective rehabilitation program.

See initial coverage here from the Kingston Whig Standard and the CBC's website

Upcoming actions may include:

• Setting the COWS (Community On Watch Station) back up across from Frontenac Prison Farm
• Holding a special session of Parliament's Public Safety Committee convened in Kingston to address the urgent matter of the future of the prison farms
• Hosting a concert to raise public awareness and do fundraising for the campaign
• Conducting a blockade of the auction of the Frontenac dairy herd, scheduled for August 3rd at OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange) in Waterloo, Ontario
• Continuing to pressure on that auction house from all major farm organizations to pull out of the auction - please take a moment to write an email to OLEX directly: lwitzel@olex.on.ca, wmccomb@olex.on.ca

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July 22 Update: Over 100 citizens, young and old, participated in last night's ACTION MEETING and CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE WORKSHOP, on about 36 hours notice.  We expect several hundred tomorrow morning for a,

BLOCKADE OF CSC REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS - Friday, July 23

Friday, July 23 starting as of 6:30am (come a little later if you cannot make it that early), 440 King Street West, Kingston

Shutting down CSC (Correctional Service of Canada) Regional Headquarters for the morning is meant to send a peaceful but assertive democratic message to our government.  We will not disrupt traffic on King Street.  Citizens who do not want to block vehicles can participate by standing with signs on the other side of the road.

The Conservatives cannot ignore the vast majority of Canadians on this lighting rod public safety and local food issue.  We will not give up until they listen.  Unfortunately, they are doing the opposite of listening - this yesterday in an email from the acting Deputy Commissioner of CSC, Lori MacDonald,

While we understand that there is a desire to continue discussions in this area we consider the decision final and are continuing with the closure process. As such, no further meetings or discussions will take place.

Ignoring the will of the majority of Canadians is unfortunate attitude from our civil servants and government.  Please help us get democracy working.

“Canadians have not given up the fight to save the prison farms,” says Dianne Dowling, a member of the Save Our Prison Farms campaign and president of National Farmers Union Local 316.  “We are peaceful, and will not disrupt any traffic except animal transports, but we will not let one cow or chicken leave our prison farm,” Dowling said.  “The prison farms provide a cost-effective training and rehabilitative program that works, helps inmates feed themselves, and makes our communities safer.”

“The resolve and democratic will of the community will be demonstrated in this blockade,” said Jeff Peters of the Frontenac Cattlemen's Association and a member of the campaign.  “This action is meant as practice for what may be necessary at Frontenac Institution.  We apologize for any inconvenience it may cause CSC staff not being able to get into work, as we know that the majority of them support the prison farm program.  The goal is not to target individuals, but to allow the citizens of all ages and political stripes involved in the Save Our Prison Farms campaign to show their commitment to the farms and the cows.”

“We are hoping that blockading Frontenac Institution will not be necessary,” said John Williamson of the Frontenac Federation of Agriculture and a member of the campaign.  “The auction house, OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange) in Waterloo, has been getting phone calls from all the major farm organizations, recommending that they reconsider doing this auction.  Two other auction houses in Ontario have already turned down the opportunity.”

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July 12 Update: Unfortunately, we must report that the Commissioner of CSC (Correctional Service of Canada), Don Head, was not interested in working with citizens and organizations to save and revitalize the prison farms during our meeting with him last Friday.  We believe that he will come around to democratic pressure in time, but not yet.

There is a court challenge underway led by inmates from Frontenac and Pittsburgh Institutions which makes it impossible for the CSC to move out the cows or move ahead with any shut down at these two prison farms before the case is resolved (which could take from weeks up to a year or more).

In the meantime, the campaign team is meeting this week to decide how to proceed with using peaceful civil disobedience to shift the perspective of the government and CSC on the value of Canada's prison farms.  We will provide an update later this week.

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July 7 Update: Our meeting with Ross Toller, Deputy Commissioner of CSC (Correctional Service of Canada), last Wednesday, June 30th, assured us that no animals would be sold or shipped from Frontenac Institution until after July 9, if at all.  He reported that his boss, the Commissioner Don Head is interested in ideas for revitalizing the prison farm program, including a possible biogas generation project involving the dairy herd at Frontenac Institution in Kingston, Ontario.

We have approached SWITCH (Kingston's alternative energy cluster), St. Lawrence College and Queen's University to partner on this possible initiative - all have expressed interest and are willing to move forward.  This is an opportunity for the Correctional Service of Canada, and our government, to respond to overwhelming public support for the prison farms and develop an already excellent program into a model for the future, including working with the community on the rehabilitative and reintegrative dimensions of the program.  We are excited about this possibility for constructive collaboration!

The alternative is for our government and bureaucrats to try to shut down the farms, thereby ignoring public safety, food sustainability, and democracy.  If they chose to continue on this course, they will face a mounting peaceful civil disobedience campaign supported by citizens of all ages and political stripes.  Options for future actions include reestablishing COWS (Community On Watch Stations) to monitor the farms, blockading attempts to move animals off the farms (without disrupting prison-related traffic such as guard shift changes and prisoner transfers), virtual blockades of politician and bureaucrat office communication, and shutting down CSC headquarters in Kingston, Ontario.  We sincerely hope such peaceful expressions of public will will not be necessary.

August 30, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: Dozens gather to discuss next move

From the Archive - News channel 7: VIDEO South Carolina Prison farms cut down on inmate food costs

August 28, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: Confessions of a senior civil disobedient

August 24-26, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: Letters to the Editor: Grits fail to make hay on prison farm issue, Government has no idea of farms value, Protesters weren't radicals

August 26, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: "The Save Our Prison Farm Campaign galvanized our community in the effort to preserve local food production and agricultural skills."

August 25, 2010 - CBC Radio One, As It Happens: Interview with Diane Dowling about the newly established Co-Op

August 24, 2010 - Globe & Mail: Prison farm supporters buy 25 cows

August 24, 2010 - Kingston Whig-Standard: Supporters pay $31,000 for cattle

August 9, 2010 - Macleans: Why Stephen Harper thinks he's smarter than the experts

August 19, 010 - The Epoch Times: Prison farms close as Get-Tough crime initiative moves ahead

August 19, 2010 - Frontenac EMC: Prison farm supporters vow to continue their campaign until the cows come home. And that's already starting to happen.

August 19, 2010 - Telegraph Journal: Close prison farms? Wrong move

August 19, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: Campaign to save prison farms strikes a nerve in Kingston

August 18, 2010 - Canadian Business Magazine: Farms are closing, but the manure remains (Opinion)

August 17, 2010 - Pushed to the Left and Loving it: ANIMAL FARM II: Stormy and Hope. A Modern Love Story

August 17, 2010 - Deconstructing dinner: "the future of prison farms V: abducted cows"

August 17, 2010 - Toronto Star: Kingston protesters stand up for their city's prison farms

August 14, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: Leader's mantle fit well

August 12, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: Farm supporters sound off, Calf is hope for the future

August 11, 2010 - Room for Rant:  Kingston: Remember... 'til the cows come home

August 11, 2010 - Whig-Standard: Last protester let go, Not too late to save our farms (letter to the editor), make your feelings known at the ballot box (letter to the editor)

Auguse 11, 2010 - CKWS: The cows come home!! Welcome home Hope!

August 10, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: A sad day for Canada, Police release protesters

August 10, 2010 - The Kingstonist: Dear prison farm supporters (video)

August 10, 2010 - CKWS, Until the cows come home.

August 9, 2010 - Monday arrest coverage by: Globe & Mail, CKWS

August 9, 2010 - Sunday arrest coverage by: Globe & Mail, Toronto Sun, Toronto Star, CTV

August 9, 2010 - Ottawa Citizen: Protesters vow to continue prison farm blockade

August 9, 2010 - thetyee blog: Hundreds protest prison farm closure

August 8, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: The Blockade Begins

August 3, 2010 - rabble.ca, interview with Jon Steinman from Deconstructing Dinner: Conservatives shutting down prison farms

August 3, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard: Still no action on auction

August 3, 2010 - CKWS TV, news: Small victory - auction delayed until August 10

July 31, 2010 - rabble.ca, blog post: Save our prison farms

July 27, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, letter to the editor: Military officer supports prison farms

July 24, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, story and video: CSC blockade report, plus auction firm refuses to bid on job

July 24, 2010 - Montreal Gazette, story: Hundreds block Ontario road to support prison farms

July 24, 2010 - Winnipeg Free Press, story: Protesters vow to block animals from leaving prison farm as auction looms

July 24, 2010 - CTV TV News, story: Kingston blockade set up to protest prison farm closures

July 23, 2010 - CKWS News, Kingston, video: CSC Blockade

July 23, 2010 - Globe and Mail, story: Donkey joins demonstration against prison farms closure

July 23, 2010 - CBC News, story: Group blockades to save prison farms

July 22, 2010 - EMC Kingston, story: Ottawa judge rejects bid to block prison farm closures

July 21, 2010 - rabble.ca: Civil disobedience considered by prison farm protesters

July 20, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, letter to the editor from Wayne Easter, M.P., Liberal agriculture critic: Closing prison farms is the wrong way to go

July 17, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, story: Judge rejects group's plea

July 16, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, story: Groups await judge's decision

July 14, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, story: Prison farm supporters take case to judge

July 8, 2010 - Frontenac EMC, story: Local farmer goes to jail for prison farms at the G20 summit

July 6, 2010 - The Globe and Mail, Op-ed piece by Margaret Atwood linking the prison farm campaign and the G20 protests in the context of Canadian democracy: A second chance or a boot in the face

July 6, 2010 - CKWS TV News, Kingston, Ontario, story: Prince Edward County adds voice to campaign, meeting with Don Head this Friday

July, 2010 - Eastern Ontario Agrinews, story: Prison farm reprieve?